A Little History of Economics

What causes poverty? Are economic crises inevitable under capitalism? Is government intervention in an economy a helpful approach or a disastrous idea? The answers to such basic economic questions matter to everyone, yet the unfamiliar jargon and math of economics can seem daunting. This clear, accessible, and even humorous book is ideal for young listeners new to economics and to all listeners who seek a better understanding of the full sweep of economic history and ideas.

A Little History of Philosophy

Philosophy begins with questions about the nature of reality and how we should live. These were the concerns of Socrates, who spent his days in the ancient Athenian marketplace asking awkward questions, disconcerting the people he met by showing them how little they genuinely understood. This engaging book introduces the great thinkers in Western philosophy and explores their most compelling ideas about the world and how best to live in it.

A Little History of Religion

In an era of hardening religious attitudes and explosive religious violence, this book offers a welcome antidote. Richard Holloway retells the entire history of religion - from the dawn of religious belief to the 21st century - with deepest respect and a keen commitment to accuracy. Writing for those with faith and those without, and especially for young listeners, he encourages curiosity and tolerance, accentuates nuance and mystery and calmly restores a sense of the value of faith.

A History of Britain in 21 Women

Britain has been defined by its conflicts, its conquests, its men and its monarchs. To say that it's high time it was defined by its women is a severe understatement. Jenni Murray draws together the lives of 21 women to shed light upon a variety of social, political, religious and cultural aspects of British history. In lively prose Murray reinvigorates the stories behind the names we all know and reveals the fascinating tales behind those less familiar.

The Pearl

A classic novella about the fallacy of the American dream, THE PEARL is Steinbeck's flawless parable about wealth and the evil it can bring. When Kino, a poor Mexican pearl-diver, finds a magnificent pearl - 'the Pearl of the World' - he believes that all his dreams can come true.

d says:"An all time classic and steinbeck is a legend"

Publisher's Summary

How did a land and people of such immense diversity come together under a banner of freedom and equality to form one of the most remarkable nations in the world? Everyone from young adults to grandparents will be fascinated by the answers uncovered in James West Davidson's vividly told A Little History of the United States.

Davidson guides listeners through 500 years, from the first contact between the two halves of the world to the rise of America as a superpower in an era of atomic perils and diminishing resources.

In short, vivid chapters the audiobook brings to life hundreds of individuals whose tales are part of the larger American story. Pilgrim William Bradford stumbles into an Indian deer trap on his first day in America; Harriet Tubman lets loose a pair of chickens to divert attention from her escaping slaves; the toddler Andrew Carnegie, later an ambitious industrial magnate, gobbles his oatmeal with a spoon in each hand. Such stories are riveting in themselves, but they also spark larger questions to ponder about freedom, equality, and unity in the context of a nation that is and always has been remarkably divided and diverse.

Davidson's little history - part of a series apparently inspired by Gombrich's little history of the world - captures the essence of some of the critical issues of American history. He focuses on freedom and equality and how those concepts played out through the Revolution, the conflicts over slavery, the robber barons of the industrial revolution, the many crises of the twentieth century.

The narrative is mostly political and social, at the expense of military history: the battles of America's many wars race by at triple speed. The politics are described concisely and the coverage is broad, although I felt a gap in his discussion of the early Republic. The Constitution was like a musical score: the actual working government, and the implementation of checks and balances, had to be assembled almost on the fly. Davidson doesn't linger over the details of this process as much as I wish he had.

Arthur Morey has a great voice for this kind of straightforward historical narrative. He manages to sound objective without sounding passionless. It's a brisk and informative introduction / review.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Andrew

Ithaca, NY, United States

20/05/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Great"

Well written, easy to follow along. Really enjoyed it. Western bias, but they stated that at the beginning.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

BKOregon

23/05/17

Overall

Performance

Story

"Wonderful book!"

I loved this book! Well written, and narrated, it weaves a fascinating story of American history. In this time, where our leaders and followers seem to have little grasp of how our Republic came to be, this is especially important while being entertaining.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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